U.S. patent number 10,974,623 [Application Number 16/290,296] was granted by the patent office on 2021-04-13 for means of transportation.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG. The grantee listed for this patent is MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG. Invention is credited to Reinhard Hoermann, Wolfgang Passegger, Franz Planka.
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United States Patent |
10,974,623 |
Hoermann , et al. |
April 13, 2021 |
Means of transportation
Abstract
A transport vehicle that includes at least one seat to receive
passengers thereon, the at least one seat being moveable between a
non-stowed position permitting a passenger to sit thereon, and a
space-saving stowed position to permit a transport of goods. A
cover is provided and moveable between a non-operating position and
an operating position to at least partially cover at least one side
wall of the motor vehicle and also the at least one seat in the
space-saving stowed position.
Inventors: |
Hoermann; Reinhard (Hitzendorf,
AT), Planka; Franz (St. Andrae, AT),
Passegger; Wolfgang (Tillmitsch, AT) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG |
Graz |
N/A |
AT |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG
& Co KG (Graz, AT)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005483572 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/290,296 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190329678 A1 |
Oct 31, 2019 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Apr 26, 2018 [EP] |
|
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18169479 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J
7/0015 (20130101); B60P 1/6409 (20130101); B60N
2/3034 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/30 (20060101); B60J 7/00 (20060101); B60P
1/64 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10016946 |
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Jul 2001 |
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DE |
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10233745 |
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Feb 2004 |
|
DE |
|
Primary Examiner: Dayoan; D Glenn
Assistant Examiner: Bonifazi; Melissa Ann
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jordan IP Law, LLC Vaughn; Todd
A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising: at least one seat
to receive passengers thereon, the at least one seat being moveable
between a non-stowed position permitting a passenger to sit
thereon, and a stowed position to permit a transport of goods; and
a cover, comprising a roller blind, which is moveable between a
non-operating position and an operating position to at least
partially cover at least one side wall of the motor vehicle and
also the at least one seat in the stowed position.
2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a floor having
a recess to receive the at least one seat when in the stowed
position.
3. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein a region of the floor of
the transport vehicle adjacent to the at least one seat is at least
partially covered when the cover is in the operating position.
4. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a
separate roller blind for at least one side wall and for the floor
region.
5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cover is only moveable
to the operating position when the at least one seat is in the
stowed position.
6. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a
folding mechanism arranged, in a non-operating position, in a
region of a roof lining of the motor vehicle.
7. The motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein the folding mechanism
comprises a plurality of cover side walls and a cover floor.
8. The motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein the folding mechanism is
retained via closure elements in the region of the roof lining,
and/or in the operating position, in a floor region of the motor
vehicle.
9. A transport vehicle, comprising: a plurality of seats to receive
passengers thereon, each seat in the plurality of seats being
moveable between a non-stowed position permitting a passenger to
sit thereon, and a stowed position to permit a transport of goods;
and a cover, comprising a roller blind, which is moveable between a
non-operating position and an operating position to at least
partially cover at least one side wall of the transport vehicle and
also the seats in the stowed position.
10. The transport vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a floor
having at least one recess to receive the seats when in the stowed
position.
11. The transport vehicle of claim 10, wherein a region of the
floor of the transport vehicle adjacent to the seats is at least
partially covered when the cover is in the operating position.
12. The transport vehicle of claim 10, wherein the cover comprises
a separate roller blind for at least one side wall and for the
floor region.
13. The transport vehicle of claim 10, wherein the cover is only
moveable to the operating position when the seats are in the stowed
position.
14. The transport vehicle of claim 10, wherein the cover comprises
a folding mechanism arranged, in the non-operating position, in a
region of a roof lining of the transport vehicle.
15. The transport vehicle of claim 14, wherein the folding
mechanism comprises a plurality of cover side walls and a cover
floor.
16. The motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein the folding mechanism is
retained via closure elements in the region of the roof lining,
and/or in the operating position, in a floor region of the
transport vehicle.
17. A transport vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body having a floor
with a recess and a roof with a roof lining; at least one seat to
receive passengers thereon, the at least one seat being moveable
between a non-stowed position permitting a passenger to sit
thereon, and a stowed position to permit a transport of goods; and
a cover, comprising a roller blind, which is moveable between a
non-operating position and an operating position to at least
partially cover the side walls of the transport vehicle and also
the at least one seat in the stowed position, wherein the cover is
arranged, in the non-operating position, in a region of the roof
lining.
18. The transport vehicle of claim 17, wherein a region of the
floor of the transport vehicle adjacent to the seats is at least
partially covered when the cover is in the operating position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
to European Patent Publication No. EP 18169479.5 (filed on Apr. 26,
2018), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its complete
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments relate to a transport vehicle, in particular, a motor
vehicle for the transport of passengers and the transport of
goods.
BACKGROUND
It is known that vehicles may be used for the transport of
passengers and goods. The problem here is that seats are required
when conveying passengers, said seats being obstructive when
transporting goods. When transporting goods there is the risk that
damage and/or dirt may appear on the vehicle.
A collapsible lining for estate cars, minibuses and the like is
disclosed in German Patent Publication No. DE 10016946A1. In this
case, the collapsible lining is loaded into the vehicle provided
therefor and folded open and subsequently removed again from the
vehicle when the vehicle is provided for the transport of
passengers.
SUMMARY
Embodiments relate to a transport vehicle which is suitable for the
transport of passengers and the transport of goods. In this case,
in particular, damage or dirt due to the transport of goods is
designed to be prevented.
In accordance with embodiments, a transport vehicle such as, for
example, a motor vehicle for the transport of passengers and the
transport of goods, may comprise: at least one seat which is
moveable between a non-stowed position permitting a passenger to
sit thereon, and a space-saving stowed position; and a cover which
is moveable between a collapsed or non-extended position and a
folded-out or extended position in which the cover at least
partially covers at least one side wall of the transport vehicle
and also the seat in the space-saving stowed position.
In accordance with embodiments, a transport vehicle such as, for
example, a motor vehicle for the transport of passengers and the
transport of goods, comprising: at least one seat which is moveable
into a space-saving stowed position; and a cover which is moveable
to a folded-out or extended position to at least partially cover
the seat in the space-saving stowed position and at least one side
wall of the transport vehicle.
In accordance with embodiments, via such a cover, a transport
vehicle which is optimized both for the transport of passengers and
for the transport of goods may be designed in a simple manner. By
moving the at least one seat into a space-saving stowed position
and moving the cover to a folding-out or extended position, the
transport vehicle may be provided for the transport of goods such
that the seat and the at least one side wall, or alternatively, all
side walls of the transport vehicle, are not damaged or soiled by
the transported goods. The seat, in turn, may remain in the
transport vehicle by being moved into a space-saving stowed
position without using space and interfering with the space for the
goods to be transported.
In accordance with embodiments, the at least one seat may be moved
into the floor of the transport vehicle and into the space-saving
stowed position, for example, by being folded away and/or pulled in
and/or retracted and/or folded down.
Alternatively, in accordance with embodiments, the at least one
seat may also be folded away and/or pulled in and/or retracted
and/or folded down toward a side wall, preferably a lateral side
wall.
In accordance with embodiments, a side wall of the transport
vehicle which, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, is located to
the left or right of the direction of travel of the transport
vehicle, is denoted as a lateral side wall.
Advantageously, in accordance with embodiments, the transport
vehicle may comprise a plurality of seats which are moveable into a
space-saving stowed position; and a cover to cover the plurality of
seats in the space-saving stowed position.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, at least one lateral side wall of the
transport vehicle is at least partially covered.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, all four side walls of the transport vehicle
are at least partially covered.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, at least one side wall of the transport
vehicle is covered by at least 50%.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, all four side walls of the transport vehicle
is covered by at least 50%.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, at least one side wall of the transport
vehicle is entirely covered.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, all four side walls of the transport vehicle
is entirely covered.
In accordance with embodiments, the cover may also take on a
decorative purpose, for example, by having decorative patterns
printed thereon.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, the seat(s) are moveable into a stowed
position, and the floor of the transport vehicle that is adjacent
to the seats is at least partially covered.
In accordance with embodiments, in a folded-out or extended
position of the cover, the seat(s) are moveable into a stowed
position, and the floor of the transport vehicle that is adjacent
to the seats is entirely covered.
In accordance with embodiments, a transport vehicle comprises a
floor having a large recess (e.g., a recess that is large in
surface area) to receive the seats. This advantageously results in
the part of the cover which covers the seats does not have to be
configured to be substantially capable of carrying the weight of
the goods during transport.
In accordance with embodiments, a transport vehicle comprises a
floor having a plurality of small recesses (e.g., each recess that
is small in surface area) which are sufficiently sized to receive
the seats. This advantageously results in the part of the cover
which covers the seats does not have to be configured to be
substantially capable of carrying the weight of the goods during
transport.
In accordance with embodiments, the cover is only able to be folded
out and/or extended when the seat(s) are moved into the
space-saving stowed position. As a result, damage that may occur to
the cover and/or the seats is prevented.
In accordance with embodiments, the kinematics of the seat(s),
which are moveable into a stowed position, may be configured to
cooperate or correspond directly with the kinematics of the cover.
Moving the seats into the space-saving stowed position may
simultaneously trigger the folding out or extending of the cover
via a common actuating element, and vice-a-versa.
In accordance with embodiments, each cover comprises a roller
blind.
In accordance with embodiments, each cover comprises a separate
roller blind for at least one side wall and also for the floor
region.
In accordance with embodiments, each cover comprises a separate
roller blind for each side wall and also for the floor region.
In accordance with embodiments, the cover comprises a folding
mechanism, i.e., cover elements which are connected via a folding
mechanism.
In accordance with embodiments, in a collapsed state, the cover is
arranged in the region of the roof lining of the transport
vehicle.
In accordance with embodiments, the cover comprises a plurality of
side walls and a floor.
In accordance with embodiments, the folding mechanism is retained
via closure elements in the region of the roof lining and/or in the
folded-out state in the floor region of the transport vehicle.
DRAWINGS
Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings
and explained in the description below.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a transport vehicle, with
a roller blind in a retracted position, in accordance with
embodiments.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a transport vehicle with a
roller blind in an extended position, in accordance with
embodiments.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a transport vehicle with a roller
blind and seats respectively in a retracted position, in accordance
with embodiments.
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the transport vehicle with a
roller blind extended and seats in a space-saving stowed position,
in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of a roller blind in a retracted
position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of a roller blind in a
retracted position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of a roller blind in an extended
position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective view of a roller blind in an
extended position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a transport vehicle having
a folding mechanism in a folded-in position, in accordance with
embodiments.
FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a transport vehicle having
a folding mechanism in a folded-out position, in accordance with
embodiments.
FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a transport vehicle having a
folding mechanism and seats respectively in a folded-in position,
in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of a transport vehicle with a
folding mechanism in a folded-out position and seats in a
space-saving stowed position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 11A illustrates a side view of a folding mechanism in a
folded-in position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 11B illustrates a perspective view of a folding mechanism in a
folded-in position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 12A illustrates a side view of a folding mechanism in a
folded-out position, in accordance with embodiments.
FIG. 12B illustrates a perspective view of a folding mechanism in a
folded-out position, in accordance with embodiments.
DESCRIPTION
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6B, a first example of a
transport vehicle is provided, in accordance with embodiments.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a perspective view, a transport
vehicle 1 comprises a roller blind 2 which serves as the cover. In
accordance with embodiments, a roller blind 2 is provided for each
lateral side wall or each side wall and/or the floor of the
transport vehicle 1. In this view, the roller blinds 2 are
illustrated in the retracted position or state, i.e., the side
walls and/or the floor are exposed (uncovered). The seats 4 of the
transport vehicle 1 are not illustrated for the sake of greater
clarity.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the roller blind 2 is in an extended
state. A hollow space is configured between the floor of the
transport vehicle 1 and the cover of the roller blind 2 for the
floor in order to receive the seat(s) 4 (not illustrated). Meaning,
the seat(s) 4 are moveable into the hollow space, and thus, into
the stowed position. The side surfaces to the front and rear are
shown uncovered, but depending on the embodiment, may be at least
partially covered via the roller blind 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, a side view of the transport vehicle 1
having seats 4 which moveable between a non-stowed position
permitting a passenger to sit thereon, and a space-saving stowed
position. The seats 4 may be arranged in or counter to the
direction of travel of the transport vehicle 1. The seats 4,
however, may also be arranged to be rotatable by 90.degree. to the
direction of travel. By way of example, alternatively, embodiments
may include seat benches instead of seats 4.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, a side view of the transport vehicle 1 in
which the seats 4 are folded down in a space-saving stowed position
and the roller blinds 2 are in an extended position state.
Preferably, the backrests and the legs of the seats 4 are able to
be folded down via joints. It is possible that the seats are not
only able to be folded but are also able to be pulled in and/or
retracted and/or folded down. In accordance with embodiments, the
seats 4 and the roller blinds 2 may have a common actuating
kinematics which permits a simple reconfiguring of the transport
vehicle 1 into one of the two usage states.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a pair of spaced apart roller
blinds 2 having a cover that is extendable therebetween. In this
instance, the cover is in a retracted position/state.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cover of the roller blinds 2
is in an extended position/state. The cover may in this case be
extended fully out of a winding roller over the entire length of
the transport vehicle 1. Alternatively, the cover may be extended
from the rear of the transport vehicle 1 and from the front of the
transport vehicle 1. For example, the cover may be extended as far
as the middle, where the two roller blinds 2 are connected
together. The roller blind 2 is configured such that the weight of
the goods may be easily carried without damage to the seats 4
located thereunder.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12B, a second example of a
transport vehicle is provided, in accordance with embodiments.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of a cover for
a transport vehicle 1 is provided. A folding mechanism 3 is used
for the cover, and is arranged (in the collapsed state) in a region
of the roof lining of the transport vehicle 1 and retained there
via suitable closure elements.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the folding mechanism 3 is in a
folded-out position/state, i.e., with folded-out cover elements. A
hollow space is arranged between the floor of the transport vehicle
1 and the floor of the folding mechanism 3, the seats 4 (not
illustrated), being arranged folded away therein. The folding
mechanism 3 may be connected to the transport vehicle 1, for
example, by suitable closure elements.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the seats 4 of the transport vehicle 1
the seats 4 are in a non-stowed position and the folding mechanism
3 is arranged in the region of the roof lining of the transport
vehicle 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, some of the seats 4 of the transport
vehicle 1 which are arranged in the region of the folding mechanism
3 are fully folded down, whereas other seats 4 which are arranged
outside the folding mechanism 3 are not folded down, or only
partially folded down.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the folding mechanism 3 is in
a folded-in position/state. The folding mechanism 3 in this case is
arranged in a space-saving manner in the region of the roof lining
of the transport vehicle 1.
As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the folding mechanism 3 is in
a folded-out position/state in a side view from the front. In the
folded-out state, the folding mechanism 3 has an additional lining
5 arranged on the front region and the rear region of the transport
vehicle 1. The lining 5 is to prevent soiling or damage to the
front side wall and rear side wall of the transport vehicle 1. The
additional lining 5 is moveable into position by being pivoted
downwardly and locked in position on the floor and on the side
walls of the transport vehicle 1. Alternatively, the lining 5 may
be connected thereto by being plugged into the floor and/or the
lateral side walls of the folding mechanism 3. In addition to the
function of preventing soiling or damage, the lining 5 also takes
on the function of stabilizing the folding mechanism 3.
The terms "coupled," "attached," or "connected" may be used herein
to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between
the components in question, and may apply to electrical,
mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or
other connections. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc.
are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no
particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise
indicated.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing
description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be
implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments
have been described in connection with particular examples thereof,
the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since
other modifications will become apparent to the skilled
practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and
following claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
1 Transport vehicle 2 Roller blind(s) 3 Folding mechanism 4 Seat 5
Lining
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